(CNN) - The CNN Political Ticker is live blogging the CNN Arizona Republican Presidential Debate in Mesa. Check here for live updates throughout the event and be sure to follow @PoliticalTicker, @CNNPolitics and use #CNNDebate.

10:11 p.m. ET - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer tells Borger the debate made it harder for her to choose a candidate to endorse. She said Gingrich's answer on immigration was strong, particularly his pledge to work with governors of border states.

10:09 p.m. ET - Watch CNN National Political Correspondent Jim Acosta in the post-debate spin room here.10:06 p.m. ET - Ron Paul told King his foreign policy was "definitely a different policy" from his competitors. "I'd say the young people who come to see me, that's their biggest issue, war and spending."

10:04 p.m. ET - Ron Paul to John King: "When I'm polling against the Democrats and independents, I do better than the rest, and the Republican party claims they want somebody to win."

9:58 p.m. ET - CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger asked Santorum about his attacks on Romney centering on earmarks: "I think the governor is just misinformed, and just making points that are falling flat."

9:56 p.m. ET - John King closed the debate and said goodnight.
9:51 p.m. ET - Question to the candidates about the biggest misconception about them as candidates.

Paul said the biggest misconception was that he couldn't win a general election against President Obama.

Gingrich wanted people to know the work he put in on welfare reform and balanced budget as House speaker.

Romney said he had the background and skills to be president, but did not offer a misconception he thought voters held about him.

Santorum also did not offer a misconception but said he was the candidate best positioned to win against President Obama.

9:49 p.m. ET - Read a transcript from the first part of tonight's debate here.

9:44 p.m. ET - Romney cited the strong performance of schools in Massachusetts during his tenure as governor, and said teachers' unions had too much power over education policy. Said kids needed to be put ahead of unions.

Gingrich echoed Romney's criticism of teachers' unions, saying power needed to be invested back into local districts and parents. Said too much attention had been paid on teaching "self esteem."

9:42 p.m. – @PeterHambyCNN: Santorum on national TV just now: I voted for something I didn't believe in for nakedly political purposes

9:42 p.m. ET - Question from the audience about the education law No Child Left Behind
9:39 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he would create a new American energy policy that would reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Romney said America needs to work with allies in the region to force Syrian President Assad to step down.

9:37 p.m. ET - Question about how candidates would deal with Syria.

Santorum said Syria was a puppet of Iran, and a destabilizing force in the region. Said Obama's dealing with Syria revealed a "timidness" that is also evident in his dealing on Iran.

9:34 p.m. ET - Paul took a markedly different stance on Iran, saying there was no proof yet they had nuclear weapons. Said he didn't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, but that American involvement needed to be taken with care and under Constitutional guidelines.

9:33 p.m. ET - Santorum said he agreed with Romney, and reiterated the stand that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Noted a bill he sponsored in the Senate that would have imposed sanctions on Iran.

9:31 p.m. ET - Romney said President Obama's dealing of Iran was his "most serious failure." Said military options should not just be on the table, but should be in the hand.

9:30 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he would be willing to use American military force to preempt a strike on Israel from Iran. He said, "You have an absolute moral obligation to defend the lives of your people by eliminating the capacity to get nuclear weapons."

9:26 p.m. ET - Question from the audience: How would you deal with the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon?

9:25 p.m. ET - Paul struck on his anti-war platform, saying the men didn't need to be serving in Afghanistan, much less women.

Santorum said we needed to reexamine the best roles for anyone serving in combat.

9:19 p.m. ET - Read a transcript from the first part of tonight's debate here.

9:12 p.m. ET – Candidates were asked about Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's statement that some conservative rhetoric on immigration is "harsh" and "intolerable."

Gingrich said he couldn't be sure what comments Rubio were talking about but slammed President Obama for a speech he made in El Paso that Gingrich called "totally demagogic."

9:11 p.m. ET - Romney said he advocated an e-verify system and said he would complete a border fence. Romney said he would drop federal lawsuits against states with tough immigration laws.
9:09 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he supported building a fence along America's southern border. Said he would move Department of Homeland Security personnel from Washington to border states like Arizona and Texas.

9:07 p.m. ET - Paul said more needed to be done to secure the border and enforce current immigration laws. Said President Obama had failed to enforce laws, leading to increased illegal immigration.

Latinos make up 29.6% of Arizona's population, and are an important - and growing - voting bloc in the state. In the 2008 general election, Latinos constituted 16% of the electorate, up from 12% in 2004.

In 2008, Latinos favored Barack Obama over John McCain by 15 points, 56% to 41%.

9:03 p.m. ET - Romney defended his tenure as governor, saying he balanced the budget even after his health care law went into effect. Santorum hit back, saying it was his job to balance the budget and it wasn't a legitimate achievement to campaign on.

9:01 p.m. ET - Santorum went after Romney for his Massachusetts health care plan, saying it was a model for Obamacare.
8:59 p.m. ET - Romney hit Santorum for voting for Title X, which included provisions for family planning. Santorum said he voted for it because it was a large appropriation bill but that he opposed the contraception measures.

8:57 p.m. ET - Gingrich said Romney refused to exempt religious institutions from a requirement to provide health insurance coverage for contraception during his time as Massachusetts governor, saying "When you have government as the central provider of services, you inevitably move towards tyranny because the government has the power of force."

8:38 p.m. ET - Santorum said the government effectively shut down the airline industry after 9/11, but that the auto industry wasn't shut down by the government. Said the comparison was apples to oranges.

8:37 p.m. ET - Romney said he thought companies needed to enter a managed bankruptcy process in order to best recover. Said he supported the airline bailout after September 11, just like Santorum.
8:35 p.m. ET – Santorum said he thought market forces should have been allowed to determine the fate of the auto industry. Slammed Romney for his position on government bailouts, saying "I beleive in markets, not just when they're convenient to me."

8:34 p.m. ET - Question from CNNPolitics.com: Why was former President George W. Bush wrong in his efforts to save the auto industry and why was Barack Obama wrong to continue the effort?

8:32 p.m. ET - Paul said Congress has become irresponsible in spending money by attaching funding measures to unrelated bills. Said it was the responsibility of members of Congress to vote against spending bills they don't support.

8:28 p.m. ET - Romney mocked Santorum, said he didn't follow his last answer. Said he would ban earmarks altogether and that Santorum voted for the 'bridge to nowhere.'

8:26 p.m. ET - Santorum asked if there were any earmarks he regrets making during his time in Congress. Said there were always votes former senators regret, but that some of the spending he secured was good for his state. Said the system was broken.

8:24 p.m. ET - Gingrich said Romney had taken the right step today in his tax reform plan.

8:23 p.m. ET – @AriFleischer: The fact that Romney hasn't repeated his line about being a "severe" conservative tells u he shouldn't have said it the 1st time.

8:22 p.m. ET - Asked about his statement he was a "severely conservative" governor of Massachusetts, Romney said he was severe and strict. He noted his balanced budgets and tough immigration laws.

8:20 p.m. ET - Santorum defended his votes in Congress, saying he was voted the most fiscally conservative member of Congress and that his voted to reign in entitlements were risky politically.

8:19 p.m. ET - Paul continued to hit Santorum: "I find it really fascinating that when people are running for office they're really fiscally conservative. When they're in office, they do something different."

8:17 p.m. ET – @EWErickson: Ron Paul sitting next to Santorum. A bit awkward. But Ron Paul does it with a humor Santorum has trouble mustering. #CNNDebate

8:17 p.m. ET - Asked about his criticism of Santorum as a "fake," Ron Paul says: "He is a fake!" Santorum, seated next to Paul, said "I'm real, I'm real!"

8:15 p.m. ET - Answering the question about the national debt, Gingrich pointed to his record of balanced budgets as House speaker. Said the debt would never go down if the unemployment rate doesn't improve.

8:13 p.m. ET – @jimacostacnn: Santorum points out Romney was asked about raising debt ceiling earlier this summer and he said he would.

8:13 p.m. ET - After criticism from Romney, Santorum defended his record on spending votes during his time in the Senate. Said he took on entitlements and never voted to raise taxes. Santorum hit back at Romney by saying he raised taxes as governor of Massachusetts.

8:12 p.m. ET - Romney said he would go through the federal budget and find programs that weren't worth borrowing money from China to fund.

8:09 p.m. ET - Santorum said we need to reduce spending on entitlements, and repeal Obamacare. He said, "If you think defense spending is the problem you need a remedial math class."

8:08 p.m. ET - Question from audience: What would you do to bring down the national debt?

Paul: I am the defender of the Constitution, the defender of liberty.
Santorum: Here to talk about a positive solution to country's problems.
Romney: I want to restore America's promise.
Gingrich: I've developed a program for American energy.

8:05 p.m. ET - Camera panned across candidates during the National Anthem. Romney and Santorum were voicing the words.

8:04 p.m. ET - The Arizona State University Symphonic Chorale sang the National Anthem.

8:03 p.m. ET - John King introduced the candidates onto the debate stage.

8:01 p.m. ET - Watch the video open to tonight's debate here:

8:00 p.m. ET - John King opened the CNN Arizona Republican Presidential Debate.

6:30 p.m. ET – From @StreitfeldCNN: Mitt Romney relaxed by the pool at his Mesa hotel this afternoon, turning his face to the sun as he lay back on a pool chair. He was joined by his son Craig and his family, who went swimming. Romney wore a button-down shirt and slacks at the pool.

soundoff(1,144 Responses)

Please ask the candidates if the support the comments from Billy Graham son on Morning Joe this week

February 22, 2012 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |

May

Every person who has spoken at this debate (moderator, questioner, candidate) are men. Not a single woman has spoken.

February 22, 2012 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |

Jonathan Offen

TO ALL CANDIDATES:

As president, if a "Life at Conception Act" establishing that human life begins at conception were to be passed in the senate and the house, would you veto the bill, or support it?

February 22, 2012 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |

mike

My question for all candidates. Where do you stand on the unions of today?

February 22, 2012 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |

Adrian Smith

Curious how candidates would widen GOP appeal to people of color.

February 22, 2012 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |

mochica

Oh yes, how horrible that Romney passed a plan in his state that would cover the 5% that didn't have health coverage. In our private plans we already pay for those without insurance (most of whom can't afford it, it is NOT a personal decision usually). With a healthcare plan patients receive regular checkups and can be seen by a family doctor instead of always having to go to the costly emergency room, regardless of the gravity of the condition.

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Anna B

How would these candidates see themselves in the context of being president of not just Christian Americans, but also non-Christian Americans? Do they believe that they can be an impartial leader of such a theologically diverse population?

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Rich DeJana

why did Romney lie. Again when he said Pres Obama started the " minister"--actually a teacher eeoc case when it filed under Bush, the sixth Cir decision was under bush and the final appeal was filed just ten days after Obama was sworn in and he had little todo within. Does Romney just like to lie

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

David

I wish the candidates would address the housing industry.

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Stand up for what's right

Where do these candidates stand on SUPER PACS??????????????

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Julie

why doesn't the government issue passports to all US citizens, if someone is caught committing a crime they must produce their passport–if they are not citizens (even green card holders) they should be deported forget the millions to build a fence, they are digging tunnels underground and coming through, get them when they are here-need medical attention bring your passport no passport-no care--american born children to illegals-parents were illegal children are illegal HELLO it's and easy solution

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Tom Boharsik

I frequently hear discussions about securing our border with Mexico but what about securing our border with Canada and tracking foreigners who enter illegally into the United States from our neighbors to the North?

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Slade

Why was it okay when Rick Santorum's wife had an affair with a man that was 40 years older then her but he continues to attach Newt Gingrich on his marital affairs. Why is it "okay" if his wife has an affair when no one else can? What makes her so different ?

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Edgardo Gonzalez

What do you think about closing trade with china and restoring manufacturing in the U.S?

February 22, 2012 09:28 pm at 9:28 pm |

Sirned

The word patriot comes up often in this campaign. Do you believe Americans that do not agree with you are as patriotic as you are? And if we are a nation of individualism explain your definition of a patriot....

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

Donnie Chester

I challenge each prospective candidate to answer the questions asked without making any references to the other candidates. The American people are tired of witnessing fruitless accusations and insinuations. How bad do things need to get before we all start working together to solve our problems? What is thier plan? How will they accomplish the things they are committing to?

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

juju11

Plain and simple..if our military budget continues to receive cuts, ALL other rights go by the wayside, don't they? If we are unable to defend our country, we will not be discussing any other topics, period.

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

Carol Bachman

To all: As nonrenewable resources become increasingly expensive, what actions would be taken to cut greenhouse emissions and cut our reliance on nonrenewable energy sources?

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

Ram Ramachandran

Would you support current administration's policy on Syria? If you are President will you send US troops to Syria to prevent the massacre that is going on????

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

JAMES GARRETT

to all candidates... why is our military the most under paid professionals in the united states, which in most cases with todays situation and propblems are more likely to pay the ultimate price, their life. with a very high percentage {percapita} are on food stamps. as president what would you do to close the income gap. james garrett us navy retired
disabled american veteran....

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

Larry

The overt racist/woman hater and the anti-christ can debate each other until they are blue in the face, neither will become President.

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

Will

What do you think President Obama has done well? Please be positive.

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

C.L. Chancey

Newt is a candidate also. Please ask him more questions.

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

Theodore Book

Why have no companies be made to reduce vulnerability when bailed out when it is critical for no company be required to be bailed out. Wasnt that the idea?? Banks, Insurance, creditcard, and automakers all bailed out but none are too small to fail yet bonuses and huge salaries continue? Hello America??

February 22, 2012 09:29 pm at 9:29 pm |

matt shea

here is a qustion for the candites ,oboma's health care bill says that kids can stay on to there partents coverage until age 26 what the kids in foster care once they turn of age they do not have anything , what would u do as president to fix this